England boss Gareth Southgate has ‘got to go’ as manager is still p****ed off about infamous advert
Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has hit out at Gareth Southgate and has suggested that England need to hire someone “who can win” things.
Southgate has admitted that he is considering his future as England manager after they were knocked out of the World Cup by France over the weekend.
The Three Lions were beaten 2-1 in the quarter-finals by the 2018 winners. Harry Kane scored and missed a penalty as Southgate’s side crashed out of the competition.
This is the third tournament Southgate has managed at. He has previously guided England to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and the final of the European Championships last year.
His contract is due to expire in 2024 after the next Euros draw to a close.
Former Premier League midfielder Barton has become a manager in recent years. He has had spells in the Football League with Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers.
He thinks Southgate has “got to go” as he “isn’t a winner”.
“Can’t believe Southgate hasn’t resigned yet. That’s two World Cups and a home European Championship we could/should have won,” Barton said on Twitter.
“Stop rewarding failure. Got to go. Time to hire somebody who can win.
“Pizza Hut advert years ago. Enough said.”
Barton later added: “Time for him to move on. You have to win. He’s a nice guy but he isn’t a winner.
“When he put Pizza Box on his head after missing the pen, he was done with. No self-respecting man would ever do that. Sorry. He’s had his time. Move him on.”
The Pizza Hut advert referenced here is the one that aired a couple of months after Euro 1996.
Southgate, Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle all missed or had penalties saved as England exited the competition.
In the advert, Southgate had a bag over his head to hide after the penalty miss while Pearce and Waddle constantly reminded him of the incident.
Southgate has since apologised for his involvement and it feels a bit petty of Barton to bring this up again all these years later.
Pearce has argued that Southgate should carry on as England’s head coach.
“I’ve dropped him a text this morning just saying how proud I am of him and the squad,” Pearce told talkSPORT.
“I hope he stays in post and drives this team forward because I’m so proud of them and have been in the previous tournament as well and prior to that in Russia.
“I’m so proud of all the players for what they’re achieving and also what they stand for and the togetherness and pride in the shirt as an ex-England player.
“I hope that he carries on in his role because he’s the one whose knitted this all together and it would worry me if he were to step away.
“He’ll think things out, he’s very studied in what he does. I hope fingers crossed that he stays in post.”
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